Garlic Essential Oil as Promising Option for the Treatment of Acute Campylobacteriosis-Results from a Preclinical Placebo-Controlled Intervention Study.

Markus M Heimesaat,Soraya Mousavi,Stefan Bereswill,Dennis Weschka

doi:10.3390/microorganisms9061140

Abstract

Since human infections with Campylobacter jejuni including antibiotic-resistant strains are rising worldwide, natural compounds might constitute promising antibiotics-independent treatment options for campylobacteriosis. Since the health-beneficial properties of garlic have been known for centuries, we here surveyed the antimicrobial and immune-modulatory effects of garlic essential oil (EO) in acute experimental campylobacteriosis. Therefore, secondary abiotic IL-10-/- mice were orally infected with C. jejuni strain 81-176 and garlic-EO treatment via the drinking water was initiated on day 2 post-infection. Mice from the garlic-EO group displayed less severe clinical signs of acute campylobacteriosis as compared to placebo counterparts that were associated with lower ileal C. jejuni burdens on day 6 post-infection. Furthermore, when compared to placebo application, garlic-EO treatment resulted in alleviated colonic epithelia cell apoptosis, in less pronounced C. jejuni induced immune cell responses in the large intestines, in dampened pro-inflammatory mediator secretion in intestinal and extra-intestinal compartments, and, finally, in less frequent translocation of viable pathogens from the intestines to distinct organs. Given its potent immune-modulatory and disease-alleviating effects as shown in our actual preclinical placebo-controlled intervention study, we conclude that garlic-EO may be considered as promising adjunct treatment option for acute campylobacteriosis in humans.

Highlights

Introduction published maps and institutional affilHuman infections with enteropathogens such as Campylobacter jejuni are progressively rising all over the globe, causing tremendous health burdens with serious socioeconomic consequences [1]
Humans may become infected upon ingestion of undercooked or even raw meat products, milk or surface waters that are contaminated with C. jejuni [2]
We addressed whether garlic-essential oil (EO) treatment would have a beneficial effect on the clinical conditions in C. jejuni infected mice and quantitated pathogen-induced disease by using clinical scores

Summary

Introduction

Human infections with enteropathogens such as Campylobacter jejuni are progressively rising all over the globe, causing tremendous health burdens with serious socioeconomic consequences [1]. In the majority of events, contaminations of meat products occur during the slaughter processes, facilitating access of the C. jejuni bacteria to the food chain [3]. Humans may become infected upon ingestion of undercooked or even raw meat products, milk or surface waters that are contaminated with C. jejuni [2]. The highly motile bacteria express a broad range of virulence factors involved in cell adhesion and invasion and induce innate and adaptive host immune responses limiting bacterial dissemination on one hand but at the expense of resultant tissue damage on the other [2,4]. Within two to five days post bacterial ingestion, individuals might complain about clinical signs such as iations

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion